Exploring / Venturing - The Changes

On August 1, 1998, the National BSA split the Exploring program
into two separate organizations. Explorer Posts in the areas
of:

Arts and Hobbies

Outdoor,

Sea Scouting,

Sports, and

Youth Ministries

were
transferred to the new Venturing Division of BSA and became Venture
Crews. Viking Council
rechartered units in 1999 as
"Venture Crews" rather than "Posts".

Sea Exploring Ships are now called Sea Scouting Ships.
Sea Scouting has its own advancement program for youth members
(male and female) of Sea Scouting Ships. While Viking Council does not have
any Sea Scouting Units, you can visit the Sea Scoutingsite for details.

He must meet the requirements as prescribed in the official Boy
Scout Handbook and the current Boy Scout Requirements book.

The Venturer may fulfill leadership requirements by serving as
president, vice president, secretary, or treasurer of his crew.

The Scoutmaster conference will be conducted by the Advisor.

As the Venturer meets requirements for the
Star and Life ranks, a
board of review will be conducted by the crew.

The Eagle board of review shall follow the procedures established by
the Viking Council BSA.

All other Explorer Posts and their members were transferred to the
new Exploring Program in the
Learning for Life program, which is a separate
subsidiary of BSA.

Explorers that were working on rank requirements toward the
Star, Life, and Eagle Scout ranks only had until December 31, 1999
to complete them. If an Explorer wishes to continue
to work on Boy Scout Rank awards, they now must also register as a
member of another Viking Council unit - as either a Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or in a
Venturing Crew to complete requirements Boy Scout advancement
requirements. No exceptions, sorry.

TheVikingBSA.org
web site is a volunteer effort. Suggestions for improving
the site are welcome! Please email your comments to the
Web Committee.
Problem reports may be sent to the
Webmaster. Our goal is to improve communications and to
advance Scouting in the
Viking Council.
Thank you for your input!